Passer-by rescues homeowner from fire

YOUNGSTOWN

Firefighters are crediting a passer-by with possibly saving the life of a homeowner in a house fire on the city’s East Side.

Dominic Koulvanos, of Matawan Avenue, Campbell, spotted smoke coming from the rear of a house at 1821 Lansdowne Blvd. at 5:51 p.m. Wednesday and entered the house, yelling for anyone inside.

Koulvanos told Andrew Benson, the homeowner who was in a front room unaware of the fire, that his house was ablaze, and assisted him in exiting before firefighters arrived.

Battalion Chief Frank J. Rosa said the blaze, confined to the rear sunroom, appears to have been caused by an electrical short circuit that ignited a carpet, extension cord, table and microwave oven. The house and its contents sustained minor smoke damage.